49ers preseason standouts: 3 who shined (and 3 who fell flat) in opener vs. Broncos

New York Times

10-08-2025

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers raced out to a 9-0 lead against the Denver Broncos on Saturday night, notable because it was quarterback Mac Jones and a slew of second-stringers on offense and defense versus the Broncos' starters in the first quarter.
After that, the game dissolved into, well, a typical preseason opener. Which is to say, it was full of penalties (20 total), mistakes and missed tackles, most of them by 49ers backups who lost the early momentum and fell 30-9.
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Still, there were some promising performances, including by several rookies. Here were the top three standouts, followed by three players who fell flat in the summer opener.
Lucas got two of the 49ers' nine points when he blitzed out of the slot and forced Broncos quarterback Bo Nix into an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone. Defenses don't always reveal their blitzes in the preseason, but defensive coordinator Robert Saleh told Lucas before the game that he'd be aggressive with his calls.
'He said, 'I'm gonna let it rip,'' Lucas said. 'I said, 'Man, if you're gonna let rip, I'm going to show you some things.' He stuck to his word, and it ended up going in our favor.'
Safety! @49ers add two points to their lead
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/1nNFaGuQVq
— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2025
Lucas got the nod at nickel cornerback because promising rookie Upton Stout is dealing with calf tightness, and the 49ers decided to be cautious with him.
Lucas, who spent 2024 on San Francisco's practice squad, also had a nice third-down pass breakup on a would-be touchdown toss late in the first quarter. But what will really jump out to coaches was his stout tackle on 227-pound running back Audric Estime on the first play of the third quarter and another big hit later in the quarter. Lucas led all defenders with eight tackles, five of them solo stops.
Who starts at defensive tackle on Sept. 7 in Seattle? Davis made a strong case Saturday, finishing with a sack, a quarterback hit and a splash play in run defense in which he barreled down the line of scrimmage to snag speedy Broncos tailback Jaleel McLaughlin by the ankles. Davis, who started next to rookie C.J. West, led all 49ers linemen with three solo tackles.
'I thought he had a really good offseason last year and was having a good training camp, but then got hurt (in the preseason) at Tennessee pretty bad,' Kyle Shanahan said. 'And it set him back a ways. But I think this offseason has been very similar. He's had a real good training camp, and I thought he had a good first half (Saturday), too.'
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Sigle was one of three rookies — West and receiver Jordan Watkins were the others — who started the game. Though he left late in the second quarter with a knee injury, he was active and involved early, leading San Francisco with seven tackles in the first half.
Shanahan said the preliminary indication was that Sigle suffered a knee bruise and nothing more serious.
'I thought he was one of the guys who flashed tonight,' he said. 'He got a little bit of a late start by being injured in the (spring). And it was a few days into camp until he really got going. But he's had a hell of a week here and finished it off good today.'
One of the 49ers' Week 1 safety spots seems like it will go to Jason Pinnock. The other is up for grabs. One contender, Ji'Ayir Brown, has been out with a lingering ankle issue, while another, Richie Grant, will miss roughly a week with a knee injury. Sigle, meanwhile, is the 49ers' fastest safety since Tarvarius Moore (third round, 2018), and that speed was apparent Saturday as he buzzed around the field. One of the questions with him is whether, at 6 feet, 199 pounds, he has the size to hold up at the position.
WR Junior Bergen: He was the top choice at kick and punt returner, taking back his first punt for 28 yards. It was a promising start for a rookie whose roster spot hinges on how well he returns punts.
WR Jordan Watkins: He had a mixed outing, including running the wrong route on Jones' first-quarter interception. However, he also connected with Jones on a 50-yard pass that led to an opening-drive score. The play highlighted Watkins' strength: He's dangerous on deep balls.
Big play from Jordan Watkins 😤
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/bMZF3strPi
— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2025
DT Sebastian Valdez: The undrafted rookie has been turning heads in practice and looked good Saturday, too. He finished with four tackles, including a sack he shared with defensive end Robert Beal Jr.
In the second quarter, Bradley stared down receiver Russell Gage, leading Broncos linebacker Karene Reid to an easy interception. And that was just one of his miscues. He also had:
Bradley, the son of assistant head coach Gus Bradley, gave way to Tanner Mordecai having completed 6 of 14 passes for 32 yards and a 20.5 passer rating. Even his longest connection of the game, a 19-yarder to tight end Jake Tonges, was so underthrown that Broncos head coach Sean Payton challenged the completion.
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Martin looked a little like fellow weakside linebacker Dee Winters did in previous preseasons: His speed and athleticism were evident, but he was a bit all over the place and had three missed tackles on one series alone in the third quarter.
Winters, who seems to have a lock on the weakside spot this year, started the game, giving way to Martin late in the first quarter.
'He ran around, got a lot of playing time,' Shanahan said of Martin. 'He had a couple of misses, especially on a big third down on a shallow cross across the field. (He) got his eyes a little too nosy with the running back. I like how Nick's been going, but I think there's a lot (on Saturday's) tape he can get better from.'
Burford had trouble with speed rusher Nik Bonitto on back-to-back plays in the first quarter. Bonitto simply ran past Burford on second down, leading to a 1-yard sack of Jones. He did the same thing on third-and-long, resulting in a quarterback hit and a throwaway incompletion.
Shanahan said there were extenuating circumstances on both plays. On one, Bonitto was able to jump the snap because the 49ers were on a quick count. On the other, Burford was expecting someone to chip Bonitto on the outside, but that player missed the assignment.
Still, the sequence seemed to highlight the 49ers' depth issues behind starting tackles Trent Williams and Colton McKivitz. Until Andre Dillard returns from offseason ankle surgery, Burford is the top backup for Williams, who hasn't played a full season since 2013.
QB Tanner Mordecai: He didn't fare any better than Bradley, completing 3 of 6 passes and also throwing an interception. His quarterback rating: 18.8.
CB Tre Brown: He was the top nickel back in the spring. On Sunday, he played with the third-team defense, working opposite undrafted rookie Jakob Robinson, though he did force a fumble.
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Virtual review: The officials used the new measurement technology in the first quarter to determine whether the Broncos had picked up a first down. Two issues: 1. Anyone with working eyeballs could tell they were a couple of feet short. 2. The process took at least as long as the old-fashioned chain gang would have.
(Photo of Chase Lucas, No. 26: Godofredo A. Vásquez / Associated Press)
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